The Independent Panel

. @HelenClarkNZ & @MaEllenSirleaf have 3 messages re the #hantavirus outbreak: 1⃣ Commend int'l coordination since May 2 2⃣ Believe a review of events leading up to 2 May is required to identify and fill gaps 3⃣ Underscore that the time for political leadership for outbreak and pandemic readiness is now. tinyurl.com/3x2s2mjz

This #hantavirus outbreak has tested the international system - demonstrated its strengths and revealed gaps. It must now serve as a rallying cry to leaders to sustain focus on disease prevention, preparedness, and response systems, and to invest in them.  #PABS #PPPR #OneHealth

“International (#pandemic) treaty sorely needed. 5 years into negotiations, it’s clear that western backers of this plan, especially in Europe, have consistently presented it as fait accompli, while avoiding most basic & obvious political impasse b4 them.” theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

🚨Register today for this important #WHA79 side event ‘Are we ready for the next pandemic threat?’ 🗓️19 May, 12:30 - 14:00 CEST 📌Geneva Graduate Institute & Online REGISTER 👉bit.ly/425WkT0 @GVAGrad @GVAGrad_GHC @TheIndPanel

One of the clear lessons of the hantavirus outbreak is that *chance* makes a huge difference to how a disease can spread. The Andes strain of the virus causes 100s of human infections every year, but most burn out almost immediately. Occasionally, there is a bigger outbreak fueled by human-to-human transmission but these are rare. The pattern is a feature of almost all zoonotic spillover events, millions of which happen each year involving thousands of different pathogens. Mercifully, most go nowhere. They flare then vanish. Now enter *chance* – a series of unforeseen but often predictable environmental circumstances or events. A wet market, a trunk road, a game of beer-pong … or in this case, a hop-on-hop-off international cruise with connecting flights. The map below shows the 12 countries that passengers flew to after disembarking one leg of the cruise in St Helena in late April. 30 passengers disembarked there, one dead, but no one knew then about the disease to which they had been exposed. The outbreak has been serious, with three dead and at least five suspected cases so far. About 150 remain on the ship, while hundreds of potential secondary contacts are being traced and asked to isolate around the world. Nevertheless, the chances are that *this* outbreak will die out too. The virus does not appear to spread efficiently enough to sustain itself, even with the circumstances it has been handed. But here’s the thing: it’s a numbers game. Look again at that map and consider where we would be if the virus was more infectious, or had mutated to become so. It is why the World Health Organization and pandemic planning is so important.

@WHO extends #PandemicAgreement talks – But #Colombia Appeals for New 'Method' to Settle Differences ✍🏻 @kerrycullinan11 @TheIndPanel @rani_action healthpolicy-watch.news/pandemic-talks…

Failure to reach agreement on pathogen access & benefit sharing talks in Geneva is disappointing. It’s hard enough as it is to keep focus on the need for improved #pandemic preparedness & response. See @TheIndPanel statement: theindependentpanel.org/news/the-world… bssnews.net/international/… #PABS

Today @WHO Member States decided to extend negotiation of a pathogen access and benefit sharing annex by 1 year. Without the annex, the Pandemic Agreement cannot proceed. @HelenClarkNZ underscores governments must not wait to prepare for pandemic threats. theindependentpanel.org/news/the-world…

PREZODE and international partners are teaming up to tackle zoonoses and prevent pandemics ➡️How to act before inter-species transmission occurs? ➡️How to scale prevention into policies and multilateral frameworks? ➡️How to address the global financing gap? 🗓️6 April Don’t miss the PREZODE event for expert insights on these challenges at the #OneHealthSummit Register: url.inrae.fr/4d5oRyF @fourpawsint @TheIndPanel @WorldBank @WOAH @ILRI @TheWCS @AVSF_ONG

Good to see negotiators @WHO on proposed Pathogen Access & Benefit Sharing Annex to #PandemicAgreement have agreed to another round of talks. Important to complete #PABS & move agreement to ratification stage to ensure a world safer from pandemic threats: freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world…

Congratulations to co-chairs of the @WHO Pandemic Agreement Precious Matsoso, former director-general of South Africa’s department of health, and @AmprouAnne, French ambassador for global health, for their recognition among #TIME100 most influential people. I look forward to our continued collaboration for a healthier and more equitable world. time.com/collections/ti…

Transboundary animal diseases like avian influenza, African swine fever (ASF) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continue to spread, affecting animal health, trade and livelihoods worldwide. In many countries, transmission between wildlife and livestock makes these diseases harder to control. Join our webinar to learn about new practical guidelines to reduce disease spillover and support safe trade. Register and learn more: woah.org/en/event/webin…

In our statement with @rani_action (former PAN), @GPHC_Panel, @HelenClarkNZ of @TheIndPanel, we encourage keeping up the multilateral effort 👇 x.com/rani_action/st…

Several #African Countries Are Stuck Between Global #Pathogen-Sharing Negotiations and Conflicting #US Bilateral Agreements. ✍🏻 @kerrycullinan11 @rani_action @nschwalbe @GPHC_Panel @HelenClarkNZ @TheIndPanel #PABS #IGWG4 healthpolicy-watch.news/africa-stuck-b…

Ahead of #IGWG4, @rani_action joined @nschwalbe of Spark Street Advisors, @GPHC_Panel, and @HelenClarkNZ of @TheIndPanel in encouraging steadfast work on a #multilateral #PABS Annex. rani.co/keep-up-the-mu…

"We will continue to champion this multilateral process. It is central to advancing implementation of the Pandemic Agreement which will serve generations to come."

ELDERS’ STATEMENT | Elders warn against bilateral pandemic deals that could impact multilateral cooperation Decisions taken now will determine whether all people are protected from pandemic threats. Read the statement in full via link in replies ⬇️

At its meeting on November 19, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda, the @Pandemic_Fund Board approved US$500 million in grants under the third Call for Proposals—supporting 32 low- and middle-income countries through 20 projects to strengthen #pandemicprevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) capacities. These investments are expected to mobilize roughly US$4 billion in additional international co-financing and domestic co-investments, underscoring the Fund’s strong catalytic capabilities. With this expansion, the Pandemic Fund’s portfolio is set to exceed US$11 billion, reaching 98 countries across six regions. Detailed funding allocations will be announced early in the new year once project arrangements are finalized. The Board also endorsed a new methodology and metrics, based on hazards, vulnerability, and PPR capacity, to identify countries with the highest risks and needs and agreed to launch a targeted funding round for these countries in March 2026. We look forward to seeing the growing impact of the Pandemic Fund in helping countries and regions detect and contain emerging outbreaks and prevent future pandemics, thereby strengthening global #healthsecurity.